North Northamptonshire Council agrees to progress its local SEND reform plan to help ‘fewer children reaching crisis point’

The authority’s executive met last week (May 12) to discuss an upcoming deadline to submit its plan in response to the Government’s proposed special educational needs reforms in its schools white paper.

These must show how local authority services will better meet the needs of children and young people by expanding inclusive practice and SEND provision in mainstream education, improving earlier intervention and access to support and driving system-wide improvement.

The reform plans, which must be submitted by June 19, will unlock funding to address current SEND pressures and overspends on its Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). NNC is estimated to have accrued a cumulative deficit of £45m on its education balance books, as the cost and demand for alternative provision and specialist school places have increased each year.

The government announced earlier this year that 90 per cent of councils’ historic DSG deficits up to 2025/26 would be wiped out if their reform plans are approved by the Department for Education (DfE).

The plan will also underpin access to additional targeted funding for the local Experts at Hand offer, Family Hubs SEND capacity, high needs capital funding, and inclusive early years and mainstream funding, which will be linked to NNC’s performance and delivery.

Cllr Elizabeth Wright, executive member for children, education and families, told members that the approval of the local SEND plan was ‘critical financially’ as well as to improve support for children and young people with SEND.

She said: “This work matters because behind every section of this report are real children, real families and real experiences of the SEN system.

“I do want to acknowledge openly how many families are experiencing significant frustration and anxiety.

“Parents rightly expect communication, accountability and timely support. Where that is not happening consistently, we must acknowledge that improvement is needed.

“If we get this right, the outcome should be fewer children reaching crisis point, more support available closer to home and a system that works better for families from the outset.”

According to NNC, the plan has been developed through engagement with the Northamptonshire Parent Carer Voices, education providers and local authority SEND boards to ensure it reflects lived experience and professional expertise.

If it is not approved by the Secretary of State, WNC will miss out on the first round of DSG deficit payments, which will be made this autumn. The council would then have a second chance to revise and improve its plan to receive the payment in spring 2027.

The executive member for finance, Cllr Graham Cheatley, said: “This plan is the gateway to real change and also very significant funding that will help us deliver it, hopefully.

“This is about doing the right thing, acting at pace and making sure we are in the best possible position to deliver real improvements.”

It has not yet been determined how the remaining 10 per cent of the SEND deficit, which would equate to around £4.5m in North Northants, will be funded.

A statutory override, which is in place until 2028, has kept DSG deficits off council balance books to prevent many from declaring effective bankruptcy.

From 2028/29, SEND spending will be covered by an overall government budget, meaning local authorities are not expected to fund future SEND costs.